I had an unusually vivid dream last night I call “The Curse of the Anunnaki.”

Speeding through the inkiness of outer-space; in a spherical craft with large oval windows, surrounded by fellow crew persons, I am struck with a sudden sense of dread. Outside stuck to the glass and leering with soulful, black eyes — two ghostly “Anunnaki,” are attempting telepathic communications.

“That ain’t good,” I say to myself. What do they want with us; these harbingers of doom?

The picture becomes blurry and dims out — I awake disoriented.

The Anunnaki have transported me through time and space to a very different world than I am accustom to. For a purpose — their own evil purposes — I know not what. It is a world where imperial Rome never fell into the dark ages, but soldiered on into a 20th century not unlike Earth’s 1960’s.

The sword, slavery, games-to-the-death, debauchery, bread and circuses, are as natural to these Romans as to their progenitors — with all the modern conveniences technology has to offer.

Swordplay, begins in earnest as I fight for my life. I am an expert swordsman, but my opponent, is also adept with a blade. I fatally wound him and am rewarded with my freedom.

Now, a “freeman,” I cavort and celebrate with the other survivors. Slaves are brought in for our pleasure. I am particularly enamored of a young male slave but alas, my flirtations are rebuffed. I am alive but unsatisfied.

The picture becomes blurry and dims out — I awake disoriented.

Our mission, nearing completion, I am once again on board my craft. spacepersons, yawn and rub their eyes in an attempt to gain focus.

The captain, calls out “Set course for Daosiubaiu-Hygids-XIII …warp speed.

These days, everybody and their dog is getting into the space race. Something is afoot. Great Britain, Mexico, China and India are all funneling large sums of capital, into their respective emerging space agencies.

With regard to one of NASA’s newest Astronauts José Moreno Hernández; oddly enough, the greatest criticism has come from the ranks of the ethnic Hispanics–lo Mexicanos de Mexico–if you will, instead of the ‘Norte Americanos or Chicanos.’

…an American engineer of Mexican descent and a NASA astronaut. He is currently assigned to the crew of Space Shuttle mission STS-128.

Mr Hernandez is the US-born son of Mexican migrant farm workers. …Hernandez wanted to fly in space ever since he heard that the first Hispanic-American had been chosen to travel into space.

The first Mexican in space was Rodolfo Neri Vela. There seems to be some rivalry between the two astronauts–not on a personal level–so for as I know, but between the Mexicans and North American Hispanics. The Mexicans don’t really claim Hernandez as one of their own, favoring Neri Vela, instead. A Mexican National, Neri Vela, flew on the US Space Shuttle (STS-61-B) in 1985, and served as Hernandez’s inspiration to become an astronaut.

Incidentally, STS-128 also marked the first time two Hispanic Americans flew on the same Space Shuttle crew. John “Danny” Olivas of El Paso, Texas, made his second trip up into space, on STS-128, along with Hernández.

Always read the comments, please.

One commenter referred to him as: “…the second latino-american astronaut.” Another commenter, again referring to Hernandez as: ” no un chicano que habla espanol con﻿ acento gringo.” Translation. …not [really] a Chicano, but [a] Spanish speaker with a North American accent.

Either way, I think you’ll agree with Dr. F., when I say; the story of NASA engineer / astronaut José Moreno Hernández, is quiet an inspiration, regardless of which side of the river you grew up on.